So I picked up a pre-owned Miller Dynasty 200 the other day and am now shopping for an auto dimming welding helmet.

I've been told that the Miller performance series which I found for $180 or so is a good bet. Do you guys have suggestions in that price range?

 

I'm using the Miller Matrix elite and loving it. It has 4 different programmable settings and they come in handy. The helmet works for plasma cutting, grinding, welding and more. Its well worth the additional price.

 

i have a performance series. picked it up about 2 months ago and so far no complaints

 

the only bad thing about that pricce range is if you do some low amprage tig welding you tend to get flash because the auto darking doesnt always tend to pic it up

 

I plan on doing lots of 1/32" and 1/16" aluminum. Is that going to be a problem?

 

Not so much on aluminum. I find it to be a lot more of an issue on thin stainless. Its a big pain.

Ian

 

I'm partial to the Optrel Satellite. I've tried a bunch of helmets over the years, including the big window Miller's and Jacksons, and the Optrel is the **** IMO.

 

I don't have a whole lot of experience with different hoods, but I do own two; Miller elite (big window)-2years and HF special-1year (that I couldn't pass up when they had $36 promo price). Both never gave me problems. I do get flashed once in a great while with both, because the sensors get blocked or I'm welding something really thin. But I think that's pretty much any helmet. I actually like the HF, because it doesn't have the on/off botton unlike the miller.

 

I use a 3M Welding Shield Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet WS-320 was a good deal for $150 as i recall and love it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/3M-Welding...l1247

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by snootworks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm partial to the Optrel Satellite. I've tried a bunch of helmets over the years, including the big window Miller's and Jacksons, and the Optrel is the **** IMO.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Seconded

 

thanks for suggesting the Optrel Satellite. It's a bit pricier than the other hoods I've been looking at but I guess I just need to change my view on this stuff. I have no problem spending $700 on a motorcycle helmet, and shouldn't blink (hehe) about this safety gear either.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions. I picked up an Optrel Satellite

 

Good stuff dude, you'll love it. Treat it well (ie don't throw it around the shop) and it should serve you for a long time.

 

started with an old northern hydraulics sellstrom hood, was ok, used a speedglas utility for the 2 years of school i just completed, my uncle gave me a speedglas 9002x that was gifted to a friend that had 2 already, great b-day goft for me.

the 9002x is over 4xx.00
the utility can be had for 150 ish, it doesnt offer any setting switchability. the 9002x has delay, sensativity and shades from 9-13.

 

To tell you the truth I haven't seen a very good welder or fab guy use a auto lense.

 

Even though I've seen some very good welds come from people with standard helmets, people with autoshades can be more precise in where they start their arc, have less neck strain and can be more efficient. I've been through this, I know. Indeed I'm not a professional, but neither are maybe 90% of us here.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thumper64 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Even though I've seen some very good welds come from people with standard helmets, people with autoshades can be more precise in where they start their arc, have less neck strain and can be more efficient. I've been through this, I know. Indeed I'm not a professional, but neither are maybe 90% of us here.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The problem with the auto lense is when you are welding something really small your eyes won't adjust before you melt what you are welding.

 

I received my Optrel today and boy is it light! I can't wait until the welder gets here do I can try to burn the house down